Party To Give Stellar Glimpse Of Mars

When “Mars Attacks” on Saturday (Nov. 5), it
will be a stellar sight, according to Renee James, assistant
professor of physics.

Because the planet will be at its biggest and brightest
until 2018 on that day, SHSU’s Society of Physics Students
will host a “Mars Attacks” star party from 5:30-10
p.m. at the SHSU observatory near Country Campus on Highway
19.

“Mars is going to look like a bright orange 'dot' (looks
like a star) rising in the eastern sky around sunset on the
5th,” James said. “Contrary to a popular e-mail
that has been circulating for several months, Mars will not
be the size of the full moon, nor is it brighter than it has
been for 50,000 years.

“The most impressive apparition of Mars occurred two
years ago, in fact, and that once-in-a-lifetime event was
clouded out in Huntsville,” she said.

What makes Nov. 5 so special is that the planet will be easier
to see that day as an “opposition Mars” because
it will be higher in the sky than it was in 2003.

“What makes an opposition special is that Mars will
be 'opposite' the sky from the sun, in the same basic alignment
that gives us a full moon,” James said. “So an
opposition gives us a full Mars.”

The way the planets' orbits are, this also means that Mars
is at its closest approach to Earth, although not as close
as it was in August 2003, which gave star-gazers the best
opposition in over 50,000 years, according to James.

“But this one is going to be pretty impressive, the
best til 2018,” she said. “At opposition, the
planet looks its best and brightest and presents telescopes
with a nice view.

“At the observatory, we have telescopes that will be
able to show features like the Martian polar caps and some
light and dark areas on its face,” she said.

To make the evening even more impressive, the moon will be
a slender crescent in the western sky as Mars rises in the
eastern sky. The bright planet Venus will accompany the moon
in the west, and through a telescope it will appear as a crescent
as well, James said.

In addition to the viewing, which is open to the public, the
SPS will sell refreshments and raffle tickets, host space-themed
games, show an astronomical slide show and give out door prizes.

The group will also host a space-themed art contest for children
ages 4-10, which will include any space-related artwork that
will be judged by local artist Lee Jamison.

There is a $2 entry fee for the art contest, and prizes will
be awarded based on age, originality, scientific accuracy
and other categories.

For those interested, Mars is actually visible now, rising
a bit after sunset, and it will remain visible throughout
the rest of the autumn, James said.

The observatory can be found by traveling east on 11th street
to Highway 19, then following Highway 19 northwest. It will
be on the right. For a map to the observatory, visit the physics
department Web site http://www.shsu.edu/~phy_www/map.pdf.